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The University of Adelaide, Australia, announced on the 6th that researchers at the university have found a new way to kill super bacteria, that is, to weaken or even die by changing the supply of iron.

Superbugs are bacteria that are resistant to a variety of antibiotics. Because patients lack effective therapeutic drugs after being infected with super bacteria, it is estimated that they cause 700,000 deaths each year. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2050 this figure may reach 10 million. Therefore, dealing with super bacteria has become an urgent task for the medical community.

Catherine Richter, a researcher of Adelaide University, said in a press release issued by the university that she was studying the iron-destroying properties of superbugs, changing the iron supply of super bacteria and causing them to lose their pathogenic function. Finally died.

"Iron is like chocolate for bacteria. It brings energy to bacteria, allows them to grow and become pathogenic, and resists the attack of human immune system and antibiotics." Richt said that by using two different compounds, we The first is to make bacteria iron-deficient and feed them with substances that are toxic to bacteria. Hungry bacteria are not resistant to these toxic substances.

This method has been proven to be effective against super bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus in animal experiments, and the next step will be applied to human trials for the treatment of sinus infections. Both compounds are contained in a jelly-like substance and can be used only at the site of infection without systemic administration.

Rickett said that no side effects have been found for this type of therapy, and the risk of bacterial resistance to this therapy is also lower, because bacteria are unlikely to resist their favorite foods.